More than 60,000 Escape Sudan's City In the wake of Takeover by RSF Militia, United Nations States
Per the UNHCR, over 60,000 people have left the city in Sudan of el-Fasher, which was captured by the militia RSF over the weekend.
Accounts suggest multiple executions and human rights violations as RSF fighters entered the city after an year-and-a-half encirclement marked by famine and intense shelling.
The movement of those running from the fighting towards the town of Tawila, approximately 80km (50 miles) west of el-Fasher, had accelerated in the last several days, per UNHCR representative.
They were narrating shocking tales of atrocities, including rape, and the organization was having trouble to find adequate shelter and nourishment for them.
Every child was affected by undernourishment, she added.
Calculations indicate that over 150,000 residents are currently unable to leave in el-Fasher, which had been the army's remaining fortress in the western region of Darfur.
The Rapid Support Forces has denied extensive claims that the executions in el-Fasher are driven by ethnicity and follow a trend of the Arab fighters targeting ethnic minorities.
Yet the RSF has arrested one of its fighters, Abu Lulu, who has been accused of on-the-spot executions.
The organization released footage revealing the fighter's apprehension subsequent to confirmation that he was behind the execution of multiple civilians in the vicinity of el-Fasher.
Video sharing service has confirmed that it has suspended the channel associated with Lulu. The status remains unclear whether he had controlled the account in his identity.
Sudan was plunged into a domestic fighting in April 2023 after a brutal power struggle erupted between its military and the RSF.
The conflict has caused a food crisis and accusations of genocide in the western Darfur region.
In excess of 150,000 people have died in the conflict across the country, and roughly 12 million have abandoned their homes in what the United Nations has described as the biggest global humanitarian emergency.
The takeover of el-Fasher strengthens the territorial division in the country, with the RSF now in command of Sudan's west and a large portion of adjacent Kordofan to the southern area, and the army holding the capital, Khartoum, central and eastern areas along the coastal region.
The opposing sides had been allies - coming to power together in a coup in 2021 - but split over an internationally backed initiative to move towards civilian leadership.
